About the project

The SAFER project, spanning from 2022 to 2024, was initiated with the primary objective of enhancing safety in traffic accidents involving the group’s vehicles. The directive focused on continuous development in both active and passive vehicle safety measures. At its core was SAFER, a web application designed for the collection of accident data as part of the company’s Accident Research efforts. This platform was crucial for analyzing and understanding accident patterns and contributing to ongoing safety improvements in their vehicles.

Challenges

One of the primary challenges was the need to redesign the outdated application architecture to meet modern standards while ensuring backward compatibility with existing systems. To achieve this, we changed the direction from an old Java EE app hosted on Glassfish servers, to a modern Quarkus one, hosted in AWS ECS cluster with autoscaling services.

Additionally, migrating the application to the cloud posed logistical challenges, requiring careful planning to minimize disruptions to ongoing operations. Furthermore, integrating modern features into the application while maintaining data integrity and security presented its own set of challenges.

Solution

To address these challenges effectively, the project team adopted a systematic approach. We began by conducting a thorough analysis of customer requirements, identifying key areas for improvement and formulating a comprehensive plan for redesigning the application architecture. This involved implementing a modern Angular front-end application with a strong emphasis on user interface design and responsiveness. Simultaneously, we reengineered the back-end infrastructure, transitioning from a legacy Java EE application to a modern Quarkus-based architecture hosted on AWS ECS (Elastic Container Service) with autoscaling capabilities.

A critical aspect of the solution was the establishment of a robust and secure architecture. Stringent security measures were implemented to safeguard sensitive data and ensure compliance with industry regulations. This included the integration of security check tools throughout the CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) pipeline, as well as the implementation of private intranet access facilitated by Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and DirectConnect. These measures were instrumental in maintaining data integrity and confidentiality throughout the project lifecycle.

Technologies used

Angular

Java EE, Quarkus

AWS, Terraform

Checkov, WIZ

SNS, Lambda, EventBridge

Results

The project achieved significant milestones and delivered tangible results. The successful migration of the application to the cloud marked a major milestone, enabling greater scalability, flexibility, and reliability. We managed to implement a modern front-end interface that enhanced user experience and engagement, while the adoption of microservices architecture improved application performance and maintainability. Robust security measures ensured data confidentiality and integrity, instilling confidence in both internal stakeholders and end-users of the vehicles.